OB/GYN: Roy Pitkin, M.D.
How common is depression during pregnancy? Are the signs similar to regular depression?
By Roy Pitkin, M.D.
Depression is probably no more common, and may actually be less common, during pregnancy itself. However, it occurs quite frequently after birth. Many women experience mild depressive symptoms in the first week or so after delivery, called "baby blues," and in as many as 10 percent of cases the condition can be severe enough to merit the diagnosis of "postpartum depression" which calls for medical attention. A few new mothers are affected so severely that their ability to care for their newborn can be impaired. It is important for both the family and medical personnel to be alert for signs such as unhappiness, withdrawal, poor appetite, and sleep disturbance, which are indicators of postpartum depression.
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